O’Reilly, Aidan, 1894-1959, Capuchin priest

Early Life and Religious Formation
Daniel O’Reilly was born on 11 September 1894, on Walkin (now Friary) Street, Kilkenny, Ireland, to Patrick O’Reilly and Kate O’Reilly (née Cross). He entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order, receiving the religious name Aidan upon his investiture on 17 September 1911. He pronounced his simple vows on 17 September 1912, and made his solemn, perpetual profession on 8 July 1916. Parallel to his religious formation, he pursued higher education and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1915. He was ordained to the priesthood on 3 May 1918.

Missionary Assignment and Ministry in the United States
Following his ordination, Father O’Reilly spent his initial years in Ireland before emigrating to the United States in 1921 to join the American mission field. His subsequent ministry was centred across several notable Pacific Coast foundations:

• Los Angeles, California: Dedicated most of his provincial career to parochial ministry at St. Francis of Assisi Parish near Sunset Boulevard.
• Solvang, California: Appointed Pastor of Old Mission Santa Inés in 1936, directing the historic parish for a multi-year tenure.
• Burlingame, California: Assigned in 1959 to assist the community of friars at Our Lady of Angels Parish during his final year of life.

Throughout most of his life, Father O’Reilly suffered from a succession of chronic illnesses. On 7 December 1959 (the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception) he was noted by his community to be in excellent spirits. He retired early to his room in preparation to celebrate the 8:00 a.m. scheduled public Mass the following morning. Sometime during the early morning hours of 8 December 1959, he passed away quietly in his sleep at the age of sixty-five. He was buried in Burlingame near San Francisco in California.

Religious name: Fr. Aidan O’Reilly OFM Cap.
Baptismal name: Daniel O’Reilly
Date of birth: 11 Sept. 1894
Place of birth: Walkin (now Friary) Street, Kilkenny
Name of father: Patrick O’Reilly
Name of mother: Kate O’Reilly (née Cross)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 17 Sept. 1911
Date of first profession: 17 Sept. 1912
Date of final (solemn) profession: 8 July 1916
Date of ordination (as priest): 3 May 1918
Educational attainments: BA (1915)
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States in 1921
Date of death: 8 Dec. 1959
Place of burial: Burlingame, California